Hiller UH-12E N34SD

Summary

On 11 June 2009 at about 12:40 local time, a Hiller UH-12E registered N34SD, operated by Texas Air Cargo, Inc., was involved in an accident near Stringtown, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 June 2009 at 12:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Stringtown, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

34.4175, -96.0506

Aircraft

Hiller UH-12E

Registration

N34SD

Category

Helicopter

Engines

1

Operator

Texas Air Cargo, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Stringtown → Stringtown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA359

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's preoccupation with personal affairs.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The company's president reported that the helicopter pilot was "taking off from an area with large bushes and scrubby trees about 500 feet ahead. He believed he was somewhat distracted because of learning of the serious illness of his mother. ...When it appeared he might have difficulty clearing the obstacles to the left, he turned right to pass under the power lines. The tail rotor snagged the lower power line, causing the helicopter to impact the ground... The wreckage remained intact except for portions of the tail rotor and main rotor which broke off after impact." An unidentified witness reported that the helicopter had struck "lines" while conducting agricultural operations, and that the helicopter was "shattered" and "totaled." The caller stated that the helicopter wreckage had been recovered and relocated to Mineral Wells, Texas.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.